Daniel Farke named Noah Okafor alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Leeds against Liverpool, with Lukas Nmecha nowhere to be seen.
Despite scoring three goals in his last four Premier League appearances, the German was left out of the squad for the visit of Liverpool.
Daniel Farke revealed while speaking to Sky Sports that it was an injury which caused Lukas Nmecha to be absent for Leeds.
Daniel Farke says “hamstring strain” ruled Lukas Nmecha out of Leeds United vs Liverpool
When asked where the Leeds No.14 was, the 49-year-old said: “A hamstring strain meant it was not possible for him to be available. We hope to have him back for the next games, but not for tonight.”
No Tanaka and no Nmecha 😨, does this team still have enough to beat Liverpool?
Despite the talent of Okafor, it was a huge blow for Leeds to lose Nmecha – who Gary Neville felt bullied Chelsea on Wednesday night.
The 26-year-old has been exceptional since his arrival in June, with the deal made all the more sweeter considering it was a free transfer after his contract with Wolfsburg expired.
Hopefully, Nmecha – who Leeds insiders do not consider a success just yet – will be available for the next game, a trip to Brentford next Sunday.
How Noah Okafor has performed as a striker over the years as Leeds United lose Lukas Nmecha
If the man born in Hamburg is sidelined for more than just this one game, Leeds fans can take comfort from the fact Okafor boasts a decent record while playing as a striker.
| Position | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left Winger | 95 | 21 | 9 |
| Striker | 80 | 26 | 16 |
| Right Winger | 40 | 10 | 7 |
| Second Striker | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Left Midfield | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The Switzerland international has netted 26 goals in 80 appearances while leading the line throughout his career, also providing 16 assists across his time with Basel, RB Salzburg, AC Milan, Napoli and Leeds.
Farke should therefore have some confidence in Okafor delivering, if Nmecha does need longer to recover from his hamstring strain.
How good has Lukas Nmecha been so far this season? 🔥⚽
Leeds have picked up a bargain from Wolfsburg
If the plan fails, Leeds can always call on Joel Piroe, who Neville criticised, to partner Calvert-Lewin.
The Dutchman bagged 19 goals in 46 Championship appearances last term, winning the Golden Boot in doing so – so he certainly knows how to find the back of the net.
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